Viewsonic Pro9000 Projector – Performance 2

This Viewsonic Pro9000 is rather typical in brightness for a single chip DLP projector for home theater.  Let me clarify:  There are a number of very bright DLP projectors for the home, but almost all of them are around $1000 or less, targeted as home entertainment projectors – with more focus on brightness, than other features more useful in a dedicated home theater.

Well, this Viewsonic Pro9000 may share a number of features of the recently reviewed, somewhat similar business version, the Pro8300.  As one would expect, the biz version is a lot brighter, but contrast and blacks suffer as a consequence. (For example, the Pro8300, has a

While the Bright mode produces a very impressive 1257 lumens measured (via our conservative methods), and a max of 1380 lumens, it is typical of many “Dynamic” or “Bright” modes, in that color leaves a great deal to be desired. That mode as it is, is helpful, if you need every last lumen, ie. sports with lights on in a less than great room, but you sure wouldn’t use it if you have lighting reasonably under control.

The rest of the modes vary from 407 to about 724 lumens. 400 is enough for a 100″ diagonal screen in a good room. For comparison, that puts it in the same brightness class as a couple of Mitsubishi projectors (old and new), the new Sharp XV-Z30000, a few Optomas, etc.  Most of the rest, including the Sony, JVC Epson and Panasonic, are more like 500-700 lumens calibrated (the Sony almost 1000).

Less lumens isn’t bad, it just limits screen size and, when you need to, how much ambient light you can handle.  This is one of those projectors that is best reserved for the half of the market that buys smaller screens.  In general, this projector is a good fit for screen sizes up to 110″ diagonal, and best at 100″ diagonal and under.

The Viewsonic’s 450 lumens calibrated, is also just fine on screens to 110″ diagonal.

With the right screen and room, you can even go a little larger.

Remember, while a hybrid light engine will also dim over time, the time is long.  As a result, over the first few years of ownership, this Viewsonic might average 20%-40% brighter than a projector starting with the same brightness, but running conventional lamps instead of a laser/led light engine.

Intermediate modes can do a very nice job, and up your brightness into the 700 lumens range.  That will give you some horsepower to spare, for those same sized screens, for a sporting event, or TV

The Viewsonic 1.2 Zoom Lens Position Brightness

For your basic 1.2:1 zoom lens, the drop from wide angle to telephoto is about 17.5%, which is fairly significant for a lens with that little zoom range.  But, ultimately, it’s a small drop if you are at the back of that range.  It will encourage you to mount the projector as close as you can – why not, where a difference of 2 feet can buy you 20% more brightness.